If you have ever been backpacking than you likely know the joys and the pains of sleeping in the great outdoors. We at Backpacking King have compiled a list of the best backpacking sleeping pads of 2019 to help you enjoy those bright stary skies of the wilderness.
We ranked the following sleeping pads on a few different metrics, comfort, durability, r-value, and weight. To round our ratings off we included some good old subjective opinions and put the results below. We hope you enjoy our list of 2019’s best sleeping pads.
R-Value Explained
For those who might not know, the R value is number used to rate the insulation capacity of a sleeping pad. R values of 5 or higher are generally recommended for backpacking in the winter, while R values of 2 or above are generally fine for three season backpacking. It is also good to note that people with lower body mass or who generally feel cold while sleeping could benefit from a slightly higher r value.
| Comfort | R-Value | Durability | Weight | Price | |
| NeoAir Venture | 4 | 1.8 | 4 | 20oz | $74.95 |
| RCP Sleeping pad | 4 | 1.5 – 2 | 4 | 16oz | $39.95 |
| Klymit Static V2 | 5 | 1.3 | 4 | 16oz | $64.95 |
| REI Co-op Flash Insulated | 4 | 3.7 | 3 | 15oz | $99.95 |
| Therm-A-Rest Z Lite Sol | 3 | 2.6 | 5 | 10-14oz | $34.95 – $44.95 |
#1 – NeoAir Venture, Therm-A-Rest
Pros:
Comfortable
Durable
Cons:
Not very warm
Heaviest pad on the list
Therm-A-Rest is well known as a high-quality producer of sleeping pads for backpacking. While a majority of their pads run over $100, and can be priced as high as $200, they also have a good selection of sleeping pads under $100. We actually feature two of their cheaper pads in our list.
At about $75 the NeoAir Venture is a reasonably priced sleeping pad featuring durable construction and comfortable design. The Venture is made from 75D polyester and is a reasonable 2 inches thick, providing a comfortable night’s sleep for most sleepers. The pad is also rectangular, differing from the new norm of mummy style sleeping pads. The wider foot and head area help to provide a more comfortable nights sleep. One drawback of this sleeping pad is the R-Value, which at 1.8 is only decent for the price, and limits use to the summer or warmer climates.
#2 – River Country Products Sleeping Pad
Pros:
Comfortable
Reasonable Price and Weight
Cons:
At most a three season pad.
We were happy to stumble into River Country Products recently. They are a small company that provides reasonably priced backpacking gear. While they specialize in trekking pole tents (which you can check out here) they also sell a well priced and innovative sleeping pad.
The River Country Products Sleeping Pad weighs only 16oz, on par with much more expensive sleeping pads, including the NeoAir Venture. The sleeping pad is a mummy shape style pad with a length of 82 inches, or almost 7 feet. The length of the pad is a great benefit, especially if you are a bit taller than average. The pad is a standard 2” thick and 26” wide, making it one of the larger pads on the list, especially at this price and weight.
The pad also features two different fabrics, one on each side of the sleeping pad. A black stretchy fabric on one side with an R-Value of 2 and a more traditional sleeping pad material on the other with a R-Value of 1.5. Besides allowing you to choose the right R-Value for the weather the different fabrics also create a firm and soft side of the pad. As an additional feature you can purchase a pillow with the pad that also functions as a pump.
#3 – Klymit Static V2
Pros:
Comfortable
Low Cost
Cons:
One season sleeping pad
The Klymit Static V2 Sleeping pad is another innovative pad that uses special “Body Mapping Technology” to provide you with the best nights sleep. The pad features a different v-shaped design, providing you with the an exceptionally comfortable nights sleep, for side, back, and stomach sleepers alike. Besides the River Country Products sleeping bag this is one of the longest and widest on the list meaning you are less likely to fall of the pad in the middle of the nights. This pad is also a square shape providing you with more head and foot room than other sleeping pads.
Despite the comfortable design and light weight this pad has the lowest R-Value on the list at only 1.3, meaning we recommend it only for warm weather camping where insulation is not a concern.
#4 – REI Co-op Flash Insulated
Pros:
Lightweight
Easy to inflate
Warm
Cons:
Less durable
The REI Co-op Flash is the second lightest pad on the list at only 15oz, and the lightest air mattress on the list. It is also easy to inflate with a dual valve system and features the highest R-Value on the list at 3.7, making it the warmest pad we have listed here. Certainly, a solid 3-season sleeping pad, though likely still not warm enough for cold winter nights. The Flash Pad is a mummy style pad, and at 2” thick provides a reasonable amount of comfort as well.
Though with these features the REI Flash sleeping pad may seem like the perfect sleeping pad we have it listed as fourth for the high price tag and reports that the sleeping pad develops holes over time.
#5 – Therm-A-Rest Z Lite Sol
Pros:
Super lightweight
Can’t pop
Warm
Cons:
Not very comfortable
Large packed size
For those of you who prefer to avoid the hassle of an air mattress that might pop unexpectedly our last pad is a closed-cell solid pad, meaning you never have to inflate it and it can never pop. There is a reason that air mattresses are generally more popular however, as the flat solid pads are generally less comfortable than their air filled counterparts.
The Therm-A-Rest Z Lite Sol is a lightweight closed-cell pad that is perfect for three season backpacking. The sleeping pad has a neat folding design that makes it easy to pack, though it will probably take up more space in or outside of your pack than an air mattress would. One nice feature of the solid pads however is the low weight. At only 10oz for the small size and 14oz for the regular this is easily the lightest pad we reviewed. The pad is less than an inch thick however, so it definitely will not provide the same comfort level as the other air mattresses that we have listed.